7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Chatham County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Chatham County, residential walls and fences may not exceed 6 feet in front and side yards or 8 feet in rear yards. Inside the City of Savannah, the NewZO caps most residential fences at 4 feet in the front yard and 8 feet in rear and interior side
Chatham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5-1.3(a)
Height: Within residential districts, walls and fences shall not exceed six feet in height in front and side yards, nor eight feet in height in rear yards.
Yes. In unincorporated Chatham County, Sec. 5-1.1 of the zoning ordinance flatly requires a building permit for any wall or fence: 'No wall or fence shall be erected or constructed without a building permit.' Temporary construction-site fences may be approved separately for under 18 months.
Chatham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5-1.1
Required Permits. No wall or fence shall be erected or constructed without a building permit.
Chatham County's zoning ordinance regulates safety and visibility, not cost-sharing. Sec. 5-1.5 bars any fence that violates vision-clearance (sight-triangle) requirements, and Sec. 5-1.2 prohibits a fence within 5 feet of a parallel existing structure or one that blocks light, air or emergency access. Cost disputes are private civil matters.
Chatham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5-1.5
Visibility. No wall or fence or similar structure shall be constructed or erected in a manner which violates the vision clearance requirements of these regulations.
Chatham County's fence regulations expressly do not restrict necessary retaining walls: Sec. 5-1 states the wall-and-fence rules 'shall not prohibit the construction of any necessary retaining wall.' A retaining wall is still a structure, so a building permit under Sec. 5-1.1 and any engineering required by the building code still
Chatham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5-1
These regulations shall not prohibit the construction of any necessary retaining wall nor waive compliance with buffer and screening requirements contained elsewhere in these regulations.
Chatham County Sec. 5-1.3(b) requires every swimming pool to be enclosed by a fence at least 4 feet high (or a screen enclosure), with openings too small to pass a 6-inch sphere and self-closing, self-latching gates. Recreational security fences may reach 10 feet with a setback. All fences must be
Chatham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5-1.3(b)
All swimming pools shall be completely enclosed in a fence at least 4 feet in height or a screen enclosure. Openings in the fence shall not permit the passage of a 6-inch diameter sphere. The fence or screen enclosure shall be equipped with self-closing and self-latching gates.
In residential Chatham County, Sec. 5-1.3(c) bars barbed wire, razor wire, glass shards or other sharp material, and prohibits sheet metal, salvage or similar materials. Barbed or razor wire is allowed only atop 6-foot-plus fences in business, industrial or agricultural areas under Sec. 5-1.4.
Chatham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5-1.3(c)
Walls and fences shall be constructed of chain link or other fence wire (excluding barb wire, razor wire, glass shards, or other sharp material)... The use of sheet metal and/or salvage or similar materials is prohibited.
Chatham County Sec. 5-1.3(c) lists the fence materials allowed in residential districts: chain link or other fence wire, decorative wrought iron, masonry, wood, or other materials customarily found within residential areas. Whatever the choice, the fence must be visually compatible with the neighborhood.
Chatham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5-1.3(c)
Walls and fences shall be constructed of chain link or other fence wire..., decorative wrought iron, masonry, wood or other materials customarily found within residential areas and shall be designed and constructed so as to be visually compatible with the neighborhood.
1 cities in Chatham County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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